Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-06-23

Mnd ohlsnscys Btewn Dowm-rhc
West Destructive stofsn saaec anr
EornHdo on Is7S.
H -
The storm that burst over Wilmington
between IL and I yesterday morning
was almost unprecedented In It's fury and
tho extent Of damage accustomed. lis
greatest rage lasted only about half an
hour, but during this time houses were
unroofed, trees blown down, streets
flooded, and, In one instance human lives
destroyed.
During the early evening the weather
was oppressively snltry. About 10 o'clock
there was slight fall of temperature, and
from dark, lowering banks Of clouds
around the horizon fitful flashes OF light
ming began to play. The absence of
thunder, however, being rather Indicative
the ever welcome s'heat lightning" no
pprehensions OF any serious atmoBpher-
disturbance were felt. and people
5 rally retired for the night leaving
7s open as usual for purposes Of
sa. sion.
Shortly after midnight storm indica-
tons were observed. Tho slrieH became
severed with thick clouds, and mutter-
inge OF thunder followed the lightning
flashes, which were then vivid and almost
continuous. About 1240 O'Clock rain
began 10 fall, gently for about Ave min.
utes, when the storm burst suddenly upon
the city In all its raging fury. It's main
direction was from the southwest, hut
counter-ourrents seemed to come from all
points OF the compass and mingie with
terrific force and effect. The rain fell in
torrents, the lightning flashed with daz-
zling brightness and the roar OF the thun.
der was terrible. For hnlf an hour this
war Of the elements continued, and then
the storm gradually subsided.
IL would require days TO report In dc.
tail the damage ocoasioned by this storm.
Cellars were flooded from overfowinp
sewers and CUTTERS all over the city, and
unpaved streets, were fearfully washed
covering sidewalks deep with mud. Tele.
phone and telegraph wires were broken
and tho electric light wires were 40 dis
turbed and interfcred with that for awhile
lights were extinguished at various places
Swinging signs were broken or blown
away, and hundreds Of trees were stripped
Of large branches and quite q number
blown down or completely uprooted
Some chimneys were toppled over and
the roofs Of number Of houses blowr
off.
The most extensive item Of damage il
this city was the unroohng of 10 houses
In row of IA on the north side Of Front
street, from lincoln TO Union. The
houses are numbered 1901 TO 1927, ant
Mos. 1907, within two doors Of UnioI
street, occupied by Edward j. Brintor
and John I. Pierce, and Nos. 1925 81, al
the Union street corner, occupied by viii
liam Darnbrough and George Hicke,
escaped unHoathed. The houses are two
stories high, with frame sheds, and til,
roofs were caught under the front cor
nice and turned completely back, til
and timbers going together, leav
ing the bed rooms exposed to th,
storm, with nothing Int the cell
ings ss protection. These soon CAV
way and the houses were flooded TO tn
cellars. Portions of the roof, after beinj
turned back, fell through the roof tn
frame sheds, causing further damage
The roof Of house No. 1919, occupied b,
Stephen Irons, was turned down over tn
rear wall and jammed against the baol
door and window 40 that they could no
be opened. Bricks and broken timber
were scattered around, and the entire ROY
presented scene Of desolation.
or the 10 houses thus nnroofed, eigh
are owned by George W. Bush, No. 100
4 IL owned by Charles s. Hirons an
tenanted by James II. Pierce, and Nc
1908 Is owned and occupied by WilliaI
ii. johnson. The other occupants Q
the wrecked houses are Joseph A. Toy
William M. Smith, Samuel j. Truit
Stephen Irons, Elwood Sharp and WilliaI
Derrickson. Two houses were vaoan
All the occupants of the houses ar
greatly damaged by the rain, whic
nearly ruined carpets and furniture. TIL
morning they temporarily moved TO otht
quarters until the houses can berepaired
Although the row is not continuou
houses being built in pairs with Sid
yards, all were unroofed ut nearly Il
same time. The crash was frightful, m
the terrified occupants jumped from the
beds and ran down stairs, some goir
outside before being assured that u
honses were not falling down upon then
A remarkable fact was that O lady liyir
-l-- as No 992,, next deer TO the last n
rooted house, slept serenely through
all and knew nothing Of the disaster uni
all was over. Fortunately all escape
uninjured except little son of VILLA
II. johnson Of No. 1908, who was strut
on the bead, while lying in bed, by
brick which came crashing through u
ceiling. Only slight out was intlicte
The tin roofs of two houses ON q
north side of Fourth street near Scarf
were rolled up and coiled up on the bai
sheds and In The yards adjoining.
The roof OF new blacksmith shop
Front street and Greenhill avenue, Silyt
brook, recently erected by Philip Smit
was blown off by the storm. Silverbro
also sustained the loss of number
fine trees.
On the south side of Chestnut stree
between Franklin and Broome, q lar
poplar tree, with trunk over two feet
diameter, was twisted off near the ROT
and fell across the street. A portion
the tree fell against and broke down
fence in front of the house No. Ia
Unestnut street.
At the residence Of Joseph q. See'
Thirteenth and Scott streets, wind
shutter was wrenched from its hinges q
blown against the conservatory wlndoN
smashing the glass. A large maple Z
was broken of Just below the branch
Along Delaware avenue the trees 8
fered considerably in the loss OF Ia
branches. A large tree was uprooteu
Delaware avenue and jackson street. 9
one between Jefferson and Madison ssret
Alyan Aliens brick-yard was consld
ably damaged by the storm The sh
were all unroofed, the roof of one OF
kilns WAS crushed in and about wee
work destroyed. The boards cover
the brick sheds were blown in every
rection.
ON the farm Of James Brown, near
CITY in Ohristiana hundred, large
bnilding was blown down and destroy
The Wholesale and retail liquor stor
Dennis Dougherty, Of scott street
Towering avenue, was damaged, the
roof OF the main building being Die
OF and the premises flooded.
A feature OF the storm was tha nun
Of birds killed. bucketfui OF
sparrows was picked up in the city
yard yesterday morning.
Five trees we're blown across tne N
mere branch of the W. a. N. ralii'
near Newbridge and the workmens
could only get as far Ms dreenieM'
m THE COUNTRY.
Around Olnymont trees were Di
down and uprooted, and the milk
from back in the hundred re-
tIat in some instances trees had
blown across the road which had v
removed before they could pass.
AT NEW CASTLE.
Al New Castle the storm was Soy
A large tree in the school green WAS w.
by the lightning andnearly torn TO PIE
This Ia the only damage, reported'
TWO MEN INJURED AT NEWARK,